How do I stop my cat from pouncing on my face when I'm asleep?

Question

We just "inherited" two four month old kittens from my sister in law. They are otherwise very sweet and cuddly little critters, but one of the little b******s pounced on my face while I slept - I mean literally pounced, not just casually strolled over my head but POUNCED onto my face with its claws and took a chunk out of my eyelid (which burns like h**l now and is still bleeding).

I realize they're just kittens, but why do they have to take their predatory urges out on me? It's not like I can put them in another room since we live in a studio apartment and shoving them in the bathroom or closet would be inhumane. I wish I could declaw them but my husband is firmly against it. He also told me that his old cat did the same thing for 14 years, so there goes my hope of their outgrowing it.

Is there anything I can do to stop this behavior and save my eyeballs, or do I just have to live with it?

Answer 1

Best thing you can do is not react in this situation.

Sometimes a good firm no does the trick with kittens, but I get the feeling that maybe your cats are doing this for a reaction.

Maybe you know better? Do you cry out when they do it, or not? If you do, try not reacting. If you don't, a good firm 'No' and then ignore them.

I say this because I have a cat called Willow, who will do similar things because she loves it when she makes us scream. My Mother doesnt get it, although I've explained it to her, and will still cry out when Willow pounces at her feet. Willow doesn't do it to me much anymore, because I don't react, and that ruins Willows playtime. She loves it when she scares us.

Maybe you have some hair on your forehead that kitty wants to play with? You could also try tying your hair back for a while, until kitty gets over it?

Good for your husband to be against declawing. It really is cruel, and not needed. Theres always an alternative.

Answer 2

To save your eyes get one of those eye covers. Then to discourage the cats spray them with water and say no when they do that. Good luck.

Answer 3

Close your bedroom door, don't let them in your room while your sleeping. Since they won't have anyone to bounce on they'll grow out of it. Good luck : )

Answer 4

Hi there,

Gosh, how stressful!  Right, well, I think the water bottle/gun is the only thing for it.

I, um, inherited a 9 week old kitten and he's now about 16 weeks. Totally lovely but a lot of work and reinforcing good habits over and over and over...

At first, he was very bitey and would constantly jump into the fridge, out of the door and a lot of other naughtiness generally. Now, he's pretty much broken of these behaviours but I was walking around the house armed with a water pistol holster for a few weeks. Now I hardly ever have to squirt. I've heard other people say a loud noise - like a jar of coins to shake - can do the same thing if you don't want to squirt them. Never, ever hit - it achieves nothing and they'll hate you for it. The thing with cats, I'm learning, is that they really do understand the cause and effect of their behaviour - as long as the effect happens immediately after the cause. So, if pouncing gives a bad enough outcome, they'll stop it.

I think if you're prepared sleep spend a few night (sorry but I think you'll likely have to do this to get the message over) 'play-sleeping' (let's face it, your sleep over the last wee while can't have been that restful anyways...) and waiting for the pounce. When it comes IMMEDIATELY shout 'NO!' and squirt. Do that 3 or 4 times and they'll get the message loud and clear. So, um, will your husband!  He might begin to see your perspective...

If you don't catch them immediately then the squirt probably won't achieve anything because you need to get them to associate the bad behaviour with a negative outcome. If you miss the chance on one occasion you'll just have to wait until the next time comes around

I would tackle this behaviour now, though, because if you don't the likelihood is that the cats will be impossible to break of it later.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

Answer 5

Smack it the next time they do it!

Answer 6

Keep a water-filled spray bottle next to your bed, and use it when needed.  After a few times, kitty will get the message.

Answer 7

Why will your husband not let you get them declawed? If they are indoor cats it shouldn't matter. I would hope your eyes are more important to him than kitty claws. Shutting them in the bathroom is not so inhumane if they have their litter box and food in there. It's only for the nighttime. Eventually they will outgrow their playfulness(one can hope) and you will be able to let them out again. Good luck! :-)

Answer 8

Hi! Since your husband is against declawing I would suggest a product called Soft Paws. They are nailcaps for cats.

http://www.softpaws.com/gallery.html

They will help save your face from their claws while you work on discouraging this behavior. I would use a quick squirt of water as a deterant.

Answer 9

lock them in another room, buy a pet carrier. or duct tape them to a chair